Apparatus for rolling metal



0@t.3o,1934. W` R, CLARK 1,978,895

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING METAL Filed Nov. 23. 1951 2 sheets-snee*u 1 COLD LIQUID LUBRICANT HOT LIQUID LUBRICANT @eM/C n Mew/WS Oct. 30, l1934. w. R. CLARK 1,978,895

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING METAL Filed Nov. 25, 1951 f sheets-sheenb 2 Patented Oct. 30, 1934 y APPARATUS FOB ROLLING METAL Walter vE. Clark, Bridgeport, Conn.

' Application November 23, 1931, Serial No. 576,812

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for rolling metal. The apparatus is of the general type described in my application Serial No. 251,430.

6 While in some aspects the invention is applicable to hot rolling, it is particularly intended for use in connection with cold rolling in continuous strip mills and'like mills.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved method and improved means for controlling the gauge of the rolled strip or sheet so that vthe gauges rolled will be more uniform than has heretofore been possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for maintaining the gauge uniform or substantially uniform byyautomatc means which overcome the necessity/of heating or coolin'g the rolls by devices that require to be manually controlled by the operator or attendant.

Another object of the Ainvention is toprovide apparatus adapted to lubricate the rolls as well as to control the contours thereof automatically.

' To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and steps and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section and partly diagrammatic of a two-roll mill for rolling strip or sheet material, constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an inner face view of one ofthe chambers used for varying the temperature of `the rolls; i v

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is' a fragmentary view of one of the heat responsive velements shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 shows a modification. y

In the drawings the reference numeral 4 indi-v ncates in general the frame of a rolling mill, of which only one end is shown and in which are mounted bearings 5 and 6 of rolls 7 and 8, bearing 5 being usually xed, while bearing 6 is adjustable toward and away from bearing 5 by means 45 such as a screw 9 mounted in head 10 of frame 4 and adiustedby means of hand wheel 11.

In the present invention the control of the roll temperature and therefore of roll contours and gauge is effected by providing automatic means for transferring heat from a roll or rolls when the temperatures thereof are above a predetermined limit, and for transferring heat to the roll or rolls when the temperatures thereof are below this limit, the transfer of heat from or to the roll or rolls being controlled by means which is sensitive to changes in the temperatures of the roll or rolls. The transfer of heat is preferably brought about by bringing hot or cold liquids into contact with the faces of the rolls according to whether the rolls are to be heated or cooled, these liquids being inthe nature of lubricants for facilitating the rolling operations. In other words, the liquids Awhich are maintained at the proper temperature for controlling the roll temperatures serve the additional function of lubricating means for the rolls and the material being rolled.

A suitable apparatus for the purpose in view may involve a hollow box-like element 12 in contact with the face of roll 3 closely adjacent the pontwhere the material emerges from between rolls 7 and 8, and having an inlet 13 for a liquid lubricant such as oil or soapy water or the like. 'I'his lubricant passes to inlet 13 from a suitable container or source 13*l of liquid lubricant which is maintained'atthe required low temperature 75 for effecting cooling of the roll, as herein more particularly described. The box-like element 12V has an outlet 14 for the lubricant. In the passage to the box 12 is a balanced valve 15 in valve casingl having connected thereto a iluid supply pipe 17. Box 12 is open on the side acliacent roll 8 so that the cooling liquid may come into conta'ct with the face of the roll, and this box is provided with end walls 18 and 19 which are adjustable lengthwise of the roll, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, so that the effect of the cooling liquid can be largely conilned to any desired portion lengthwise of the roll within certain limits.

The box-like element 12 is of substantially U- shape in cross-section and has longitudinal walls -20 between which the adjustable end walls are received, the end walls being mounted on longitudinally extending walls 21 and 22 provided with slots 23 .and 24 through which pass .suitable securing means herein shown as bolts 25 and 26. 95

In order to control' valve 15 and thereby the flow of cooling liquid into and through box 12, a suitable device such as a thermostatic bellows 26* is provided connected to valve 15 by means of yoke 27 and valve stem 28, valve 15 being constantly 100 urged into closed position by means of weight 29 adjustably mounted 'on the outer end of lever 30, the latter having a fulcrum point at 31 on lever 32 which is pivoted at 33 to frame 34, the opposite end of lever 30 engaging knife edge 35 on yoke 27. 105 The bellows 26 is secured to the upper end of frame 34, the lower end of the latter being mounted in any desiredmanner on valve casing 16.

Adjacent the surface of roll 8 and beyond box 12 in the direction of rotation of this roll is a 110 bulb 36 containing a thermosensitive huid, bulb 36 being connected to bellows 26%l by means of pipe 37 enters wd '1* url in* teriorly of bulb 36 near the bottom thereof. The thermosensitive fluid may consist of alcohol, ethyl ether or alcohol mixed with water or other suitable llid, depending 0n the t u v'. 1 range through which theregulator is to be sensitive. Bulb 3s is partially surrounded by 3a formed of heat insulating material, said casing having an open side directed toward roll 8 and being supported in or on the mill in any desired manner. The bulb 36 is surrounded in all directions except in the direction of roll 8 by means of casing 38 so that the thermosensitive fluid is acted on by the heat of the roll but substantially unaffected by outside temperature conditions. In the preferred form shown, the bulb 36 is not actually in contact with the -roll 8', but is spaced outwandLv therefrom a short distance in order that it may not be affected by heat which would otherwise be generated through friction between these parts. Y

In providing automatic means for imparting heat to the roll or rolls, I may employ devices such as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1 involving a box-like element 48 connected with a container or other source 49 of a lubricating liquid which is constantly maintained at the required tempera-v ture for imparting heatto the roll. Box 48 in this .particular instance is substantially similar to box 12 and in contact with roll 8 closely adjacent the point where the material enters between the rolls of the mill. Box 48 is provided with an inlet 49 for the heated lubricant and with an outlet 50, the inlet passage of the liquid lubricant'being controlled by balanced valve 51 in valve casing 52 having connected thereto supply pipe 53. Connected to valve 51 by means of valve stem 54 and yoke 55 is a thermostatic bellows 56 mounted on frame 57, secured in any desired manner to valve casing 52, and connected to the interior of bellows 56 is a pipe 65 leading to bulb 58 containing a suitable thermosensitive fluid such as mentioned above, the bulb 58' being spaced slightly from' the roll 8 and surrounded on all sides except in the direction of roll 8 by the casing 59 of heat insulating material. The pipe enters bulb 58 and terminates interiorly near the bottomthereof. Itistobe notedthatinthiscase the expansion of the thermosensitive fluid in bulb 58 when the temperature of the roll is normal or above normal, acting through pipe 65 on bellows 56, closes valve 51, and that the latter permits heating liquid to flow into box 48 onlywhen the roll temperature and therefore the pressure on the fluid is lower than normal. As a suitable means-for opening the valve 5l when the thermosensitive fluid condenses or contracts during the periodswhentherolltemperatm'emavbesubnormal, there is provided a lever 60 having one end in contact with knife edge 61 on yoke 55, hav-v ing an adjustable weight 62 on its outer end and an intermediate fulcrum point at 63 on .lever maracas and stem 54, opens valve 51 and permits heating liquid to flow into box 48 where it comes into contact with the roll surface to heat the same and also to lubricate the same, and then flows out through outlet 50.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the gauge of the material rolled will be automaticallymaintainedsofarasthesizeandshapeof the roll pam are concerned. This size and shape of the pm will not be subject to any substantial change as a result of variations of roll temperature, foi when the roll temperature rises beyond a predetermined limit the devices previously described are automatically placed in operation to bring the cooling and lubricating liquid intovv contact with the roll, and similarly, when the roll temperature falls below the predetermined limit the devices previously described are brought into action to apply a heating liquid lubricant to the roll surface to thereby heat ,the same and expand the roll so that the bite will not be increased beyond the normal size. Also, while the roll is being cooled or heated as required by conditions.

in order to maintain a substantially uniform gauge, the rolls and material are being effectively lubricated by the liquid or liquids used for effecting temperature changes.

While I have shown heat transferring and lubricating devicesassocated with only one of the rolls of the mill, it is apparent that such devices may be used in connection with two or more o the mill rolls.

A number of thermoresponsive devices may be placed in a series lengthwise of each roll for effecting heating or cooling, respectively, or both, each thermoresponsive device in such case being connected with and controlling a temperature changing device having a position lengthwise of the roll which corresponds with the position of the thermoresponsive device. An arrangement of thiskindsshowninFig.5,inwhich one ofthe rolls is indicated at 8', and is shown as having a number of thermoresponsive devices 36` arranged along the same in a longitudinal series, and a further series of thermoresponsive devices 38* 126 arranged longitudinally thereof,v the devices 36* being connected with corresponding heat transfer devices 12, each supplied with a cold liquid lubricant, and the devices 38'L being connected with corresponding heat transfer devices48, each sup- 125 plied with a hot liquid lubricant. 'I'he illustration in Fig. 5 is tic, but from the foregoing description the character and method of operation of the apparatus will be clear.

I have not attempted to illustrate or to describe all of the various modifications of the apparatus which may be made without departing from the scope-of my invention as defined in the claims.

I do not broadly claim herein the combination witharollingmillforrollingmetalaudhaving solid rolls therein of means controlled by the temperature of the outer working surfaces of the rolls for applying a heating agent to said working surfaces when 'the temperature of the working surfaces drops to a predetermined temperature, and for applying a cooling agent to the outer surfaces when their temperatln'e rises to a predeterminedv temperature, as claimed in my application,`Serial No. 251.430; nor do I claim broadly heremamillforrollingsheet materialhavingin aociationwithoneofitsrollsapluralityof thve devices adjacent the roll sur'- face at dierent points in the length of the metal contacting portion of said roll, and heat transfer devicesforval'ynstherollsmfacetemperature 150 located at corresponding points in the length of said roll and controlled respectively by said rstnamed devices, as claimed in my application, Serial No. 462,502.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a roll of a strip mill, of means adjacent the face of the roll responding to changes of roll temperature during rolling, heat transfer means utilizing hot and cold liquids applied to the roll face for varying the roll surface temperature by transfer of heat to .and from the roll, and operative means of connection between said heat transfer means and said temperature-responsive means for controlling said heat transfer means automatically.

2. In combination with a ro'lling mill for cold rolling metal sheets having solid rolls therein, means for applying a hot lubricating liquid to the outer working surfaces of the rolls, and means controlled by the temperature of the outer working surfaces of the rolls for operating the means for applying the hot liquid.

3. A mill for rolling sheet material having in association with one of its rolls a plurality of thermoresponsive devices adjacent the roll surface at different points in the length of said roll adapted to be actuated by variations of the roll surface temperature, and heat transfer devices for imparting additionalheat to the roll surface by applying a hot fluid thereto located at different points in the length of said roll and automatically controlled respectively by said rstnamed devices.

4. A mill for rolling sheet material having'in association with one of its rolls a plurality of thermoresponsive devices acb'acent the roll surface at different points in the length of said roll adapted to be actuated by variations of the roll surface temperature, and heat transfer devices for imparting additional heat to the roll surface by applying a hot liquid thereto located at different points in the length of said roll and automatically controlled respectively by said firstnamed devices.

5. In apparatus for controlling the contours of a roll of a rolling mill, sources of hot and cold liquid, heat transfer means associated with the roll for applying liquids from said sources to the roll face to heat and cool the roll, and means responsive to variations in the roll temperature located adjacent the working face of the roll and operatively connected to said heat transfer means to control the operation thereof automatically.

6. In combination with a rolling mill for rolling metal and having solid rolls therein, means for applying a hot lubricating liquid tc the working surfaces of the rolls when the temperature of the working surfaces drops to a predetermined temperature and for applying a cooling lubricating liquid to the working surfaces when their temperature rises to a predetermined temperature, and means controlled by the temperature of the outer working surfaces of the rolls for operating said means. l

7. In a rolling mill for rolling metal, said mill being adapted for the cold rolling of sheets, the combination of solid mill rolls, means in a plurality of different zones longitudinally of said rolls for applying a hot liquid to the working surfaces of the rollswhen the temperature of said working surfaces drops to a predetermined temperature and for applying a cooling liquid to the working surfaces when their ,temperature rises to a predetermined temperature,` and means in said zones controlled by the roll surface temperature for operating said first means.

8. In combination with a rolling mill for rolling metal and having solid rolls therein, means for applying a heating liquid to the outer working surfaces of the rolls, means for applying a cooling liquid to the outer working surfaces of the rolls, and means controlled by the temperature of the outer working surfaces of the rolls for operating the means for applying heating and cooling liquids.

9.l In combination with a rolling mill for rolling metal and having solid rolls therein, means for applying a cooling liquid lubricant to the outer working surfaces of the rolls, and means controlled by the temperature of the outer working surfaces of the rolls for operating the means for applying the cooling lubricating liquid.

WALTER R. CLARK. 

